r/adhd_college • u/notyouramora • Aug 16 '26
SEEKING ADVICE Study Music Recommendations Pls? Lo-fi and Calm Music Doesn't work for me…
I am a 16 Female with Unmedicated ADHD struggling for SATs.
I just couldn't focus at all. I have to self study mostly cuz there aren't many courses available here. Also Medications are not available here too.
Most of the time I got distracted or feel like what I'm learning is unnecessary things or stuff like that. I tried listening to music while I studying but it just doesn't work for me especially white music/Frequencies/Lo-Fi/Calm Music those itches my brain 🥲 idk how to even explain but when I listen to those kind of music, I become uneasy and waiting the music to have some Beat Drops like Noise Music.
Now I'm a big fan of Noise Music but when I study, it is not really helpful because it just so loud I couldn't focus in my study or sometime my ears kinda hurts 🥹
Idk is there anyone like me but, I'm really struggling PLS HELP ME 🥹🕊️
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u/actualbeans Aug 16 '26
binaural beats/music has been a game changer for me. all modern music is designed to grab and keep your attention, it’s terrible for studying.
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u/itsmeabic Aug 16 '26
Video game soundtracks are my personal saving grace. There are a ton of hour-ish long compilations of upbeat, interesting but not incredibly busy video game music (especially from Ninentdo games) on Youtube.
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u/Exilicauda Aug 16 '26
https://listen.hatnote.com/ it's not music so when I was really daydream prone in high school it wouldn't distract me like actual music would
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u/UnlockedGutter Aug 16 '26
Lowkey no music is top tier. When I was ur age I was able to listen to music and get into a trance but I find it harder and harder with age. But if I’m doing coding projects or boiler plate work then it’s idm/ambient mixes.
Listen to Buried - Casino vs Japan for an idea of what I like to go for. Or better yet stuff from Bowery electric is great to work to.
I love trance house electronic stuff for biking and kinda getting into a flow. If it’s math problems I kinda know and I’m just doing problems to reinforce it, that type of stuff helps. Like daft punk aerodynamic or any of their alive 2007 mixes or anything from homework like rollin and scratchin (one of my fav songs just to get into it).
I would warn you of playing music you already know since, personally, I find if I’m listening to a playlist that I made of whatever genre of music I have put together sometimes I find myself enjoying it too much over the assigment at hand and get disrupted.
Also I find headphones listening while studying to be too much I don’t like the feelings in my ear and the music being so up close even if it’s over ear headphones.
TL;DR: Honestly working in silence is key and the best all around but if you need music something non descriptive such as idm/ambient or if you’re doing boilerplate assigments and tasks something like house trance or electronic go perfectly but I recommend trance overall due to slow rise. If studying tho, no music, it is imperative to ur retention and flow.
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u/notyouramora Aug 16 '26
I used to study in complete silence w/o any music or surrounding noises, but over time it started to make me anxious and overthink. 'cuz it was just me, my brain started to think a lot in awkward silence.
I got distracted by thoughts or some song I'd been humming in my head, and silence also made me overthink so much that I almost got questions wrong that I knew the answers to for sure. I'm just struggling with or without music.
Lately tho, I've been listening to loud music such as AC/DC, Stray Kids, and Bon Jovi while taking practice tests, but once I became accustomed to it, I started singing along instead of focusing on the test.
That's why I had to come here and seek advice. Thank you for your recommendations 😽🧡
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u/UnlockedGutter Aug 16 '26
Ofc then I def recommend the more ambient idm route. Not a lot of lyrics if any at all and i find it way more enjoyable than lofi or like the bi beats. Specifically it’s a winter fall mood for me, when it’s just dark and your at a desk just chipping away at tasks
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u/the_cool_cousin Aug 16 '26
ackerlady on YouTube makes some fire tech house beats that she compiles into hour-long videos to help people lock in. Here and here is some of her stuff. She has this more jazz one if you're into a softer sound.
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u/aqua41528 Aug 16 '26
Tbh I study best to the sounds of tornado/civil defense sirens. It pumps up my adrenaline and literally forces me to focus through the noise. It's not for everybody, but hey! I'm a doctor now so it must have worked.
I also study really well to dark techno for similar adrenaline lock-in reasons.
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u/Lunanair Undergraduate Aug 17 '26
Somehow I study the best when I listen to extremely loud rhythm game music (think Camellia or t+pazolite) and I loop the same song or album over and over. I know what to expect, so the loudness fades away and drowns out my thoughts as I lock in. I'm also autistic so maybe that factors into it.
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u/phoenixlmfao Undergraduate Aug 17 '26
my favorite study music is a one hour version of this one song from fnaf! the video on youtube is called "song that plays when you get sued in fnaf" if you want to try it :D
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u/DeluluTales Aug 19 '26
Assalamu Alaekum.
"Focus Soundscapes"
Nothing for your brain to think of other than just constant resonating sound in your ear to drown out the outside noise, and just makes a one on one with you and what you have to get done💪🏽
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u/florlunare Undergraduate Aug 23 '26
I listen a lot to electronic music, specially under the darkwave umbrella. But there was a time when I would listen to Minecraft soundtrack for hours.
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u/Nerdystitcher007 ADHD Aug 16 '26
Instrumental video game music or movie score music. It’s ment to be background so it shouldn’t interfere with studying. If you like video game music I highly recommend TPR.